Some months ago we talk here on the blog about Monado which is an open source platform for virtual reality devices of the OpenXR standard, which defines a universal API for creating virtual and augmented reality applications, as well as a set of layers for interacting with computers that abstract the characteristics of specific devices.
For those who are unfamiliar with the project, they should know that Monado aims to create an open implementation of the OpenXR standard through a runtime fully compliant with OpenXR requirements, which can be used to organize work with virtual and augmented reality on smartphones, tablets, PCs and any other device. The OpenXR standard was prepared by the Khronos consortium and defines a universal API for creating virtual and augmented reality applications, as well as a set of layers for interacting with computers that summarize the characteristics of specific devices.
What's new in Monado 0.2?
Now in more recent news, the guys from Collabora announced the launch of the new version of the project "Monado 0.2" and in which, among the improvements added, it is worth highlighting that in the composite server the support for multi-layer rendering, with which now I know allows applications to place multiple structures XrCompositionLayerProjection (a composition layer for projection) and XrCompositionLayerQuad (useful for UI elements or 2D content in the virtual world).
Being able to work with multiple layers is important for applications that use four layers to represent user interfaces and also is the foundation for further application support with an overlay interface on stage, like xrdesktop or Pluto VR.
Another change is on the server and Komnozitny controllers which are placed in separate service processes, as work is being done to provide the ability to connect multiple OpenXR applications to an instance of the Monado service and view them simultaneously using the XR_EXTX_overlay extension.
It has also been provided in that new version of Monado 0.2, support for Vive Wand and Valve Index controllers and its use to control movement with three degrees of freedom (3DOF, moving in three directions).
In the coming months, it is planned to add support for six degrees of freedom (6DOF) using the Lighthouse tracking system.
Of the other changes that stand out from this new version:
- Added Bluetooth LE support, which is used in the controller for the Google Daydream 3DOF controller.
- Added an arduino controller for experiments when creating your own controllers.
- The libsurvive open position tracking system controller is integrated into the mainframe.
- The debugging user interface has added support for custom graphics, which are currently used to visualize the load on the CPU during rendering.
- Monado-gui supports storing configurations in the $ XDG_CONFIG_HOME / monado and $ HOME / .config / monado directories.
- Added the ability to configure USB stereo cameras for PSMV (PlayStation Move) and PSVR (PlayStation VR).
- Redesigned construction system.
- Added PPA repository for Ubuntu with Monado, OpenXR-SDK and udev xr-hardware rules.
- Added support for starting the monado-service service via activation via socket in systemd.
The project code is written in C and is distributed under the GPL-compliant Boost 1.0 Software License, which is based on the BSD and MIT licenses, but requires no mention when the derivative work is distributed in binary form.
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Today the platform only supports Linux and compatibility with other operating systems is expected in the future.
And as we mentioned in the news of this new version, a Monado PPA for Ubuntu was added, which can be added by opening a terminal and typing the following in it:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:monado-xr/monado
sudo apt-get update
And to install you just have to type:
sudo apt install monado
Finally, If you want to know more about Monado, You can check the details, as well as being able to access the source code of this, from its official website.